The fear and isolation felt by many when they are first diagnosed with lymphoedema can be crippling. The money donated by you during our Radio 4 Appeal in March will allow us to continue to provide our helpline support service which does so much to alleviate this and offer information and advice to help people adjust and move forward. Thank you".[LSN]
Living with any lifelong medical condition can be a challenge, particularly when few people have even heard of it or understand the impact it has on life. This is the case with lymphoedema, work that we have carried out, suggests that even though 400,000 men, women and children in the UK are living with it, most have never heard of it.
Our Radio 4 appeal gave us an amazing opportunity to raise awareness of lymphoedema, which is a lifelong, visible swelling that occurs when the lymphatic system doesn’t develop properly or is damaged. It usually affects an arm or leg but can be in any part of the body, it also damages the local immune system, making people susceptible to potentially life-threatening infections. There are many causes; circulatory disease, immobility, burns, obesity, cancer treatment and more. The condition can also be genetic, affecting babies, children and teenagers.
Our appeal asked for support for our helpline. People who are diagnosed with lymphoedema often turn to the internet, only to find horrific photographs of elephant-like skin, stretched over a grotesquely swollen leg, but with the right care, advice and support, it need not be like that. The fear and isolation felt by many people when first diagnosed with lymphoedema can be crippling. We can provide help and support based on expert information and 30 years of experience. We saw a substantial increase in calls to the LSN helpline following our appeal broadcast.
The LSN has been providing information and support for many years and thanks to the amazing £12,629 we raised through the generosity of Radio 4 listeners we will continue to be there on the end of a phone or email when people need us.
If you would like to know more about our work please visit.
Listen again
-
Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) Professor Peter Mortimer presents the Radio 4 Appeal, 7 Mar 2021